Refrigerating apparatus



ID. H. soKEs.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED luLY 7.1916.

1,862,757, I j Patented Dec. 21,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l- Arkom cavv D. H. STOKES.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED 1uLY 7. 191s. 1,362,757.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

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D. H. STOKES.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IULY`7, l9|6.

Patented Dee. 21,1920.v

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

n. H; STOKES.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATIQN FILED JULY 7. 191.6.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOUGLAS HENRY s'rOxEs, 0E OEEMOENE, NEAR svDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES,

AUSTRALIA REFBIGERATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 7,'1916. Serial No. 107,'961.

To all whomz't may-concern.'

Be it known that I, DOUGLAS HENRY S'roKEs, subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Murdoch street, Cremorne, near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, have invented certain new and useful .Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to refrigerating machines of small capacityvadapted to be used in connection with cold storage chambers of limited volume and suitable for the production of limited quantities of ice. The object of the invention is to provide a completely inclosed electrically driven machine of simple and effective mechanical construction and small capacity, and without any externally moving parts or accessories, assuring reasonable eiliciency and low cost of manufacture.

The machine is designed for operating with ammonia or other vaporizable liquid of high latent heat, on the usual compressing-condensing-expanding cycle. rl`he motor, the compressor, and the cooler are contained in an hermetically closed case of globular or like shape adapted to be mounted upon a ring base, and the expansion coils are pipe connected at their terminals into the said case and are located and arranged conveniently within a cool chamber so as to efficiently absorb heat therefrom either directly or indirectly. Means 'are provided for separating and trapping lubricating oil from the circuit and resupplying oil to the compressor pistons and other mechanical parts 'requiring lubrication.

My machine is distinguished from known machines of a like type in that the motor, the compressor, and the condenser are contained in a fixed case which is hermeticaliy sealed, with the expansion coils arranged externally but hermetically sealed into it. lVhere', as in certain known constructions, the case is fixed and the motor is located externally to the case, drive must be applied by a shaft or by a rod working through a stuffing box in the case, and when the packing becomes worn or the gland loosened the refrigerating agent finds egress and the efciency of the 'machine is diminished or lost and a nuisance is created by the escaping vapor or gas. And the same objection is encountered in those constructions in which the case is rotatory and the shaft is fixed to an external carrier. Where the case is sealed but is rotated, and the compressor is pendularly mounted in it, the structure of the parts within the case involves undesirable mechanical features, and it' is not practicable to effect refrigeration directly by means of `a fixed expansion coil; a rotating .heat

absorber element must then be used in connection Wlth a brine circulating system. The

shape and dimensions of the plant in that -sectional view in ,Figure l of the accompanying drawings. In this construction anoil trap is not provided and control of the condensing water service is effected manually.

Figs. 2 and 3 are incomplete vertical sectional elevational views taken at right angles to each other through a machine embodying automatic means for trapping lubricating oil from the refrigerating' agent in circuit and delivering said oil automatically to the shaft bearings and the compressor chamber and also means for controlling automatically the flow of cooling water.

Fig. 4 1s a plan of the machine as seen when the upper half of the casing! and the motor shaft bearing and crank shaft are removed.

F ig. 5 is a detail horizontal section illustrating the construction of the manifold containing the charging valve and the regulating valve.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the compressor valves.

Fig. '7 is a sectional elevation of the control mechanism for the lubrication system;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a domestic coil chamber having the machine fitted on the top thereof, the expansion coil being c0ntained within said chamber in the manner indicated in Fig. l.

Referring to Fig. l, the machine is mounted upon a ring base 10, the foot of which may be screwed or otherwise fastened to the head 11 of the cool chamber l. The casing is made in two parts, a lower part 13 and an upper part 14. These parts are bod 'i110 the lIlVelltlOIl iS SllOWH lll elllcll. I

secure the joint. In t bearing 21 carried by a fiange 22 which is fixed on a ring'seating 23 on the top of a casting 24 which contains the compression cylinders 25 and the connecting receiving duct 26 from which the gas enters after traversing the expansion coil 27. The upper portion of the casting 24 is formed with a circular flange 28 which sets upon the top edge of the lower section 13 of the casing and is embraced by the circular belt portion of the upper casing 14. A chamber 29 contained between the lower section 13 oi the case and the cylinder casting 24 forms the condensing chamber, and in this condensing chamber a spiral pipe coil 30 is contained, and the terminalsv 31 and 32 of this coil are led out throu h this case, the joints being sealed by welding, sweating or otherwise so as to insure the sealing of the case'. Cooling water is circulated through' the coil 30, being supplied through either of the terminals- 31 or 32 and ejected through the other of said terminals. The liquid pipe 116 to the expansion coil 27 is led into the chamber29. 33 is a lregulating expansion valve which is set t'o the roper adjustment when the 'apparatusl is fitted up and then hermetically sealed'over and closed to prevent interference.

The shaft 2O carries a crank disk 34 in the compressor chamber'44 below the flange 22. Onthis cra-nk disk 34 is an overhung crank pin 35 which is hushed as shown at l36,y the bush being hea rectangular externally and fitted to slide 1n a cross head 37 formed integral with the pistons 38. The piston s overrun the inlet ports 39 which merge into the duct 26,* and are fitted to work with small clearance up to the relief heads 40 which are supported by carrier springs 41. The compression valves 42 are kept to their seats by springs 43. The stems of these valves have a long bearing 44 in thechamber ca 45. The gas'delivery chamber contained between the'ca relief head 40 yof each cylin er communicates vby a passage 46'. with the chamber 29.

In practlce the cylinders are fitted with liners (whichl correspond with the liners 106 shown in Fig. 3), vto facilitate insertion of the pistons, for' which insuicient entrance is available in the construction" actually' illustrated in Fig. 1.

45 and thev The machine is completely inclosed in the hermetically sealed case, the electric service connection being carried through said case by means of bolt terminals with insulating sleeves and washers or thimbles, these bolt terminals providing a path for the current insulated by said sleeves from the casing and permanently sealing the .apertures `through which they pass.

It will be noted that the structure is characterized by extreme simplicity, the casing consisting only of two sectionswhich may be sheet metal pressings, adapted to slip one within the'other so as to permit of a' sweated joint being made to complete the closure. This casing is pierced only tok admit the electric service connections, and -the terminals of the pipe coils.

The cylinder casting requires to be machined only by boring the cylinder chambers and tapping the gas delivery chambers to take the screwed in caps 45, further -machining being necessary on the face 23 and on the flange. The long bearing 21 with its flange 22 is finished in one machining operation.

The condenser may be arranged reversely, that is to say, the compressed gas 'maybe caused to circulate through the condenser 'coil and the condensing water caused to circulate in the chamber about the coil therein.

This may be done by alternating the pipe connections shown in the drawings.

yIt is advantageous but not essential that the condensing chamber should be contained in the machine casing. Obviously thecondenser may be a separate chamber with cold 4water circulation, containing a condensing coil. The'gas space in the condenser is in this case. connected between the gas delivery chamber outlets 46 and. the liquid pipe 116.

It is desirable that the' joint between the lower casing 13 and the casting 24 shall be hermetically sealed, preferably by spinning in the top edge of the casing 13 to embrace the' casting as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and sweating the joint, in order to enable this joint to carry the pressure to which it is submature 17 turns the shaft 20 and the crank disk 34 and by means'of the crank pin 35 reciprocates the pistons in the cylinders. Nearing the extreme end of the inner stroke1 each piston takes its charge from'the duct 26 through the port 29 and Aejects the lcompressed charge through the valve 42 into the gas delivery chamber, whence the compressed charge is delivered through the passage 46 into the condensing chamber 29, the

compressed'ammonia gas or other refriger- 'Y ant used changing to the liquid 'state when,

cooled by contact with the condensing coil ing the machine of operation being maintained continuously.

The main essentials of the invention are' disclosed in Fig. 1, but in practice it is de sirable to adopt amore developed form of apparatus in which provision is contained for eliminating lubricating .oil fromA the cooling circuit and controlling automatically the supply of condensing water., It is also highly desirable to provide a construction including effective means for chargwith ammonia or` other refrigerating agent and for regulating the rate of expansion.: Improved mechanical featureswhich are also desirable consist in the mounting of the motor spindle and crank disk in ball bearings and otherwise modifying the construction to procure improved efficiency and admit of theoperation of the compressing pistons at high speed. These features are shown incorporated in the machine illust-rated in Figs. 2 to 7.

The arrangement of the ball bearing system for the spindle 20 will be fully understood on reference to Figs. 2 and 3, thebearing housing taking the lace of the longl surface bearing shown in ig. 1.

Throughout the views similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.

One of the leading-in terminals for the motor service wires are shown in Fig. 3, 100 being a bolt having a head 101 with suitable clips or binding pieces 102, 103 being insulating material, 104 a nut, and 105.,a washer. The external connections are made to the part 100, 104, or 105 as may be found convenient. tapped into the end of the bolt 100. In this improved construction the c linders are fitted withliners 106 whic are inserted through the back ends of the cylinders after the pistons have been brought into position. The delivery valve 107. is a valve of the horseshoe plate type shown in detail in Fig. 6. It is constructed of iexible steel plate according to known practice and is held against the relief head 40 yby means of a helical spring 108 of suitable stiffness. The condensing water coil 30 is fitted with radiating fins 109 to improve its efficiency. The,

inder casting is extended as shown at 113 andpasses out through -the bottom of the lating valve.

- regulating valve is shown in a screw terminal being usually' lower section of the. case, the joint being closed by a nut 114 which may' be sweated 'over after being screwed home so as to make the joint perfect. pipe 112 is fitted into the neck extension 113 of the cylinder casting, and said neck 113 `is screwed into the regulating valve casting 115, the joint in this case being also sweatedl to insure a perfect seal. The condensing chamber 29 is connected by a pipe 116 to the receiving pocket 117 of the regu- The regulating valve is a needle valve tapered seating 119 so as to regulate with the necessary nicety the flow of' refrigerant from the extension passage 120 from the pocket 117 to the extension passage 121 at the receiving end 122 of the expansion coil. The delivery end 123 of the expansion coil is connected to the bottom end of the casting 115 connecting through the passageway 124 therein to the pipe 112. The screwed joints 122 and 123 are closed by tinning over and after the valve 118 has been ladjusted it also is sealed over by means of the cap 125:. The pipe is sweated where it passes' through the casing 13, and its collar 126 is sweated int-c the pocket 117.

The clearing and charging valves are shown in section in the lower part of Fig."2 and in horizontal section in Fio.- 5, andthe y Fig. 3. The charging valve 130 is a ball kept to its seat by a helical spring 131. vThe valve chamber communicates by a passage 136 with the end 122 of the expansion coil. v

In sett-ing up the machine the atmospheric contents are displaced and the cavities dried by circulating dried air throuo'h them before the chargeof ammonia or other refrigerating agent is introduced.- For these purposes dried air is introduced at the neck 135, forced through the hole A136 into the terminal 122 'of the refrigerating coil, and passes through said coil and thence to the cylinders via the forked pipe 112.-111, thence through theco'ndensing chamber 29,

` 'pipe 116 and hole 132 to the neck 137, vwhich is kept open to atmosphere until the drying out process is completed. .A valve similar to 130 is fitted in both necks 135 and 137.- The neck 137 is now sealed up by a cap such as 134, and then the machine is exhausted through the neck 135, its valve 130 being held open to permit of this being done. An ap ropriate quantity of ammonia or other re rigeratingA agent is now introduced through the neck 135 and finally this neckv is sealed over by a cap such .as-134.

The pistons have each a groove 48 turned in them. These grooves overrun the ends of `the liners on the instroke and on the out-` stroke register with the ports 39 in the liner; they serve the purpose of equalizing pressure in the chamber 170 and the inductlon The lower end of the pipes 111 by carrying superplus of pressure to or iro between said chamber and pipes via the ports 39, and passages 110./ y The oil trap and lubrication control device is located in a chamber 150 formed in the cylinder casting. This chamber communicates through passageways 151 with the head chambers of the cylinders, so that the com-A pressed refrigerating medium passes into said chamber 150' where it drops the entrained oil. Thence it 'passes .to the condensin chamber 29 through the stand pipe 156. heflanged stud 152 is mounted in the dividing wall 153 by means of a screwed end 154. Thisv stud 152 has a hole drilled centrally in it, and a pipe extension 155 from this hole may be led upward to the upper ball bearings as shown in Fig. 2 in or er that oil may bedelivered to said bearings and pass thence along the s indle 20 and lubricate the lower bearing. he oil is separated from the refrigeratmg medium in the chamber 150 and is delivered into the central passage in the stud 152 by means of the fioat controldevice shown in Fig. 7.' This device consists'of a saddle 160 connected by a pipe arm 161 to alioat 162, the pipe arm being broughtthroughqthe float to thebottom thereof and emerging at 163. The saddle 160 rides on the stud 152. A passage yway 164 connects the pipe arm 161 to the bearing face of thensaddle' `1 60, and a lateral hole 165 from the cent1-al hole 166 in the stud 152 provides a connection from said hole 166 to said pipe arm 161. 167 is a counterweight andv 168 a `spring claw clipping underneath the part 152, and acting to parts and to keep the Asaddle in close contact with the* Stud 152; A

The an'ge ortions on-thel stud' 152 maintainl the sadd e 160 in roper lateral position. The chamber 150 eing in connection with the compression heads of the pistons always carries a-higher pressure than -the idle chamber 170 in which the cylinders are located.' When the oil level' rises in the chamber 150 and lifts the iioat 162 to a Y rev determined level, the hole 1564 in the 4sa dle is brought into register with the pass hole 165 in the hollowstud 152. Oil i`s then forced'by the superlplus of pressure in the chamber 150 throng the pipe arm 161, the pass holes 164, 165 and 166 into the chamber 170 to the ball bearing casing as already` described. A suiciency of oil is filled into the apparatus' before it is closed up to charge the chamber 17 0- to the center lin'e ofthe piistons vor perhaps a little higher' so" that the pistons always' work in oil and are therefore perfectly lubricated.

- The' mechanismi for controlling alitomatically theV flow of' condensing water Athrough'the pipe coil-30 is shown in Fig. 2.

or optionally through the pipe 15'5A This device is controlled automatically by the temperature in the system. Water is admitted through the connection 189 and passes thence through the condensing pipe 30 from 188 to 187 and to the space 186 over the dia phragm 184. The valve 183 is carried by the corrugated diaphragm 184. secured to the walls of lthe The pocket 185 is filled with spirit or other expansive medium sensitive to .temperature variation.

v The back' wall of' the pocket 185 is a portion of the lower section 13 of the casing, and is sub'ected to the temperature of the compresse gas which enters the chamber 29 ,from the trap chamber 150 through the opens the' valve 183 passing water from space I186 into the passage 181 to the outlet 180.

The condensing water passing over the face of the diaphragm 184, on the other hand, also affects the temperature in the chamber 185, and so the expansive effect of the fluid therein is controlled by the condensing water temperature on the one side and by the temperature of the compressed refrigerating gas on the other side and the diaphragm'is moved accordingly and the valve 183 so controlled as to approximately proportion the ilow of condensing water to the demand. The valve 183 is adjusted to its correct position by removing the cap 190 and turning the valve on its screwed' spindle. What I claimas my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an hermetically sealed case partitioned horizontally into three chambers,

pocket 185 around' its edges. y

an electric motor fitted above the upper said partition with the armature spindle jour- -nals of said motor mounted onV said parti` tion, a compressor in the intermediate chamber driven from 'said motor spindle, an oil trap 1n circuit with the compressor delivery vto said case, a regulating valve in said gas expansion plpe, pipe connections from the terminals of said expansion pipe to the condenser and to the inlet valve of the compressor respectively, and gas tight means for connectlng the motor terminals through insulators in said case to a source of electric Acurrent external thereto.

'in said case below said partition and dividing the lower part of said case into a condensing chamber and a compressor chamber,-

gas tight connections from' a source of electric current to the motor terminals said convwithin said casing driven nections passing through said lcase and insulated therefrom, connections between said electric motor and'said compressor, passages between the compression valve chambers of said compressors and said condensing cham- `ber, a condensing water coil fitted in said condensing chamber and having its termiwhich is connected to a ported saddle which rocks on aported stud as the float rises and falls and so. brings the ports in said saddle and stud into register and permits oil to be forced through said stud in'to thepump chamber by the pressure acting upon said oil in said receiving chamber, when the oil in said receivin chamber rises to a predetermined level t erein.

4;. In a refrigerating apparatus, means for automatically controlling the supply of con` densing water to the condenser therein, said means comprising a chambercharged with an expansive fluid sensitive to temperature 'variation and fitted with a iexible metallic head which carries an adjustable water control valve, the back of said chamber being in contact with the condensing gas and the head thereof in contact with the circulating water whereby the temperature of said expansive fluid and the rate of water circulation overned thereby are varied-proportionate y to temperature changes either in` lin the circulating the condensing gas or water.

5. A refrigerating apparatus, in combination, a gas-tight'casing, tric motor located therein, aA gas compressor by said motor, a condenser also within said casing and connected to said compressor, and a heat absorber located exteriorly of saidcasing and terminally' connected tothe compressor and condenser within the same.

comprising 6. A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein thev condenser comprises a chamber within the gas-tight casing and separate from the remaining portion thereof, said chamber being connected to thecompressor located-in said remaining. portion, v

and means within the chamber for cooling l the same.

7i. A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the gas-tight casing isdivided by partitions into three chambers, the electric motor being located in one chamber, the gas compressor in another chamber, and the condenser in the third chamber.

8. A retrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 5, vwherein the parts of the casing in which the motor and the compressor are located are separated .by a partition having bearings in which are sup orted a shaft extending through said partition and connected at one end to the rotatable element of the motor and at the other end to the compressor.

9. A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in .l

claim 6, wherein the condenser chamber is formed between a portion of the casing wall 4and a partition spaced from said wall, ex-

tending across the -casing and having integral therewith the compressor cylinders and delivery chambers communicating with said cylinders and with said condenser `cham er.

10. In a refrigerating apparatus as vclaimed in claim 5 water-cooling means for said condenser, 'an means operated jointly in accordance)with the temperature of the refrigerating medium and in accordance with the temperature of the cooling water for controlling the supply of said water to the watercooling means.

11. A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the terminals of the heat absorber are connected to a casting secured to the gas tight casing, one said terminal being connected by a passa e to a pipe leading to the compressor, and t e other end of the coil being connected byl a valved passage in said casting to a pipe leading to the condenser.

12. A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said partition has formed l therein a passage leading to ports communieating with the compressor cylinders and l connected to one end of the expansion coil.

13. In a refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 5, an oil'seplarating chamber. provided in said gas tig t casing, connections for conducting the gas from the .com ressor to said chamber, and connections for elivering the Agas separated from the-oil to the condenser. A

14. A refrigerating apparatusas claimed in claim 13, wherein oatable means are located in said oil separating chamber operated by the oil therein in-accordance with the level thereof to control the supply of oil forced by the pressure in said chamber to the motor. and compressor bearings.

. 15. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a compressor, driving means therefor, a condenser connected to said compressor, a heat absorber connected t0. said condenser and to said.\eompressor, means for supplying cooling water`\t said condenser, and means for controlling the water supply,

v comprising a chamber containing an expansible fluid and subjected on one side to the temperature of the cooling water flowing from said condenser and on another side to the temperature of the refrigerating medium, and valve means in said water supplying means controlled by the expansion and contraction of said iluid.

l 16. A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein thechamber is formed in thewall of the condenser casing and is closed by a iexible diaphragm, and a member is secured t0 said casing forming a chamber in front of said diaphragm through which chamber passes the water fromthe condenser, said valve means being connected to said diaphragm and controlling the outlet from the second mentioned chamber.

17. rA refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination a gas-tight casing; .an electric motor locatedtherein; a gas compressor within said casing driven by said motor; a condenser also within said casing and connected to said compressor; and a closed -member hermetically sealed to said casing, .forming a heat absorber and terminally connectedto said compressor and said condenser through a regulating valve.

v18. A refrigerating apparatus, comprising in combination a gas tight casing, a con- -denser therein; an electric motorand a gas thereto.

19. A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the compressor is'located in a snmp chamber above the condenser chamberl and below the motor chamber, and adapted to contain lubricatin .oil s0 as to lubricate the .compressor an the connections( between the lcompressor and this motor, and 'wherein gas educted from the heat absorber is .conveyed to the compresintakes through pipes led up .through said sump.. 20. A refrigerating apparatus las-claimed in 'claim 5, ,wherein the motor is located inthe upper partof said. easing, the condenser invthe lowerfportion .of same, and

the wanpressor islocated vertically inter-I mdin the motor and condenser.

vQ1', 'A refrigerating a paratus as claimed n- 4clfllll 17, wherein th e motor armature is carried on a vertical shaft which is journaled in a turret bearing the base of which forms' a diaphragm covering the compressor chamber.

22 A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the compressor cyllnder casting forms the middle portion of the casing and is extended downwardly at the foot-l through the condenser chamber inthe bot-4 tom of. said casin and the compressor chamber is divided rom the motor chamber at ,the top of the casing by a diaphragm which supports a 'vertical' Journal for the.

motor shaft. i

23. A refr1gerating apparatus, comprising in combination, an electric motor, a gas compressor, and a condenser, all contained within said casing on one side ofv said partition, a heat absorber, and circuit connections including a regulating valve .between` said compressor, condenser and absorber,

the heat absorber communicating with the compressor 0n the other side of said partition.

f 25. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a casing structure hermetlcally inclosing 'a space subdivided by a substantially transverse partition, refrigerant cooling means inclosed by a part o? said casing structure at one side of said partition, a refrigerant compressor within said casing at the other side of said partition, an electric motor within said casing for driving said compressor, a heat absorber associated with 'sald casing structure,-means including a regulating Valve for conducting condensed refrigerant from said cooling means to said heat absorber, means for conductingthe warmed refrigerant from said heatabsorber to said compressor, and means for conducting the compressed refrigerantfrom the compressor to the cooling means on the opposite side of said partition.

' In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature in presence of two -witnesses.

DOUGLAS HENRY sToKEs.

Witnesses H. B. CAMPBELL, `W.- I. Davis. 

